Let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear. A thoughtful friend sent a lovely song by Celine Dion wishing “the near and the dear ones, the old and the young” a happy 2011. What indeed is ‘happiness?’ We ask as we dance out 2010 to usher in 2011. Happiness has different levels for different people. One universal principle humans believe in is that happiness is not a 24/7 ball game that keeps us cheering at all times. No. There are sad moments; joy; tears; gains and losses all packaged into one big bundle called life. We have our different ways and systems of coping with our fears. No amount of self-help books or friendly fireside chats from well-wishers can take away the doubts, the fright that tomorrow may bring. It’s personal; it’s intrinsic and so deeply imbedded in our DNA.

So where does one turn to for hope; for guidance; for good news; for counseling. Certainly not our ‘zillions’ of TV channels that have become endless soap dramas where only the wicked, felonious, and the villainous live displaying the worst of humanity. The anchors of these shows love to host this uncouth, savage bunch egging these dregs of society to scream and holler; abuse and insult their opponents. And we call them our ‘leaders,’ our ‘Amir-ul-Momeen. Nawaz Sharif got crowned as Emperor Shah Jehan and Kulsoom as Mumtaz Mahal by their fawning fans.

Alas, what has Pakistan come to!

Some of our parliamentarians and ‘jali graduates’ who never went to college; never read a book; but forged their degrees to declare themselves graduates. If they had indeed gone through the drill of being properly schooled in science and humanities they would be humans of higher species. Instead they look like ruffians.

Until the system changes, which frankly will never change in our lifetime, let me show you another world, another breed of people, all very important, influential and wealthy, who believe in giving back to their community and society at large. Last month, The Partnership at Drugfree.org celebrated its 8th Annual Gala at The Waldorf Astoria in New York. In a gathering of over 600 donors and attendees — the cream of New York under purple lit giant chandeliers and freshly cut salmon stargazers or lilies as we know them, America’s legendary hotel the Waldorf Astoria (where heads of states stay, including President Zardari when he’s visiting Manhattan) rang out with offerings from guests in donations as people heard moving stories from parents and drug addicts whose life this great organisation helps touch.

Americans opened up their wallets generously and when the event was over, millions had been raised. We were told by the organisers how volunteers all across America help thousands of parents prevent, intervene and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children.

According to the latest survey, 46,000 school kids from 8th to 12th grades use marijuana daily. The survey also points to marked increases in the drug called Ecstasy and underscores that intentional abuse of prescription (Rx) medicines among teens, continues to be a cause for concern, as use remains high across all age groups surveyed. Also causing concern is the increase in cigarette smoking in schools. For 12th graders, specifically, the recent increases in marijuana use have put marijuana ahead of cigarette smoking in some segments.

“The new data presents a mix of good and bad news for parents,” Steve Pasierb, President of The Partnership at Drugfree.org told us. “The increases in marijuana and (the drug) Ecstasy use among teens are disappointing, especially since much progress had been made on both fronts in recent years. With Ecstasy specifically, this erosion in attitudes may represent a ‘generational forgetting’ as more kids enter the teen years and have not been exposed to the messages communicating the dangers of Ecstasy use. That’s where parents come in. It’s moms and dads who can truly do the best job of stressing the health risks of drug and alcohol use to their kids to protect them from the risks these present in their lives. Communication between parents and kids is the most effective prevention tool.”

A 24/7 help line has been set up for parents to call and seek help.

Now this is what our politicians and leaders should be doing with their wealth to help the needy in Pakistan. One would like to know how much money did the president, his chief ministers, cabinet, governors and fat cat parliamentarians pay from their own pockets during the Great Flood. How much did the Sharifs cough out? Instead, these leaders (who don’t deserve to be called leaders) engage in palace intrigues from Karachi to Khyber.

The national media too deserves its share of flak. Instead of fuelling fights and replaying ‘bazaari language’ of our leaders, it should be urging the leaders and their sidekicks to engage in constructive work for ordinary people literally ‘dying’ for help. Big media houses in Pakistan need to rethink their priorities and launch new initiatives touching the lives of citizens instead of highlighting every night the wretched faces of political clowns we have grown to hate and curse.

At the Waldorf Astoria, we heard the head of Disney Media Networks and president of ESPN and ABC Sports playing a major role in spreading the word against drug use as did the A&E Television Networks CEO.

Let 2011 be the year for the Pakistani media to spearhead national causes. anjumniaz@rocketmail.com